Even if those issues are not particularly important to you, the review offers me an opportunity to encourage one and all to consider reading (or re-reading) these epic poems, especially in the Fagles translations. These are gripping, fascinating works, and one ought not be intimidated by them.

You might even treat yourself to the audio versions, brilliantly performed by Derek Jacobi (The Iliad, abridged) and Ian McKellen (The Odyssey--click here to listen to a clip).